Top 50 Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S. - 2025 College Rankings

With approximately 300 undergraduate students, the Illustration BFA at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is the schools largest program. In 2022, the school launched a two-year, 60-credit Illustration MFA designed for students seeking leadership roles in art or academia. All students have access to RISD Museum, Woods-Gerry Gallery, and many others; Fleet Library; and labs such as the Color Lab, Co-Nature Lab, and Works Research Lab. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, HBO, and Pixar. Some RISD alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios and freelance businesses. 

The Illustration Department at Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) has an Illustration BFA program with two paths including General Illustration and Visual Development. To enhance the program, students can add a minor such as Graphic Design or Creative Writing. Other program benefits include 24/7 access to Cintiq labs and drawing studios; internships with places such as Pixar and Hasbro; and the opportunity to work at RCAD’s In-House Design firm the Design Center. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Apple, Cartoon Network, Hallmark, EA Games, Google, American Greetings, Riot Games, Abercrombie & Fitch, Disney, Hasbro, United Airlines, and GM. 

The School of Art at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses an Illustration AOS program and a Graphic Design/Illustration AAS program. Established in 2014, Pratt’s School of Design houses a Communications Design BFA with an emphasis in Illustration. Across programs, students benefit from courses taught by industry insiders; access to state-of-the-art maker spaces and labs; internships; study abroad experiences in Berlin or the UK; and intensive portfolio development courses. Graduates have been hired at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Amazon, DreamWorks, Scholastic, Disney, Cartoon Network, Penguin Random House, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Gameloft, and Hasbro.

The New School is home to Parsons School of Design (Parsons). Within Parsons is the School of Art, Media, & Technology (AMT), which provides an Illustration BFA program that allows students to add a minor such as Immersive Storytelling or enroll in a dual BA/BFA. Students also benefit from internships with Apple, Nickelodeon, or The New York Times, among others; access to the state-of-the-art Making Center; and participation in events such as Comic Arts Brooklyn and MoCCA Fest. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Rockstar Games, The New York Times, Urban Outfitters, LAIKA, The Society of Illustrators, Vice Media, Viking Books, Tiffany & Company, Amplify, and Brooklyn Print House. 

The College of Fine Arts and Communications (CFAC) at Brigham Young University (BYU) houses the Department of Design. Within the Department is a Limited Enrollment (LEP) Illustration BFA program that accepts just 40 students per academic year. With courses such as 3D Digital Illustration, Sketchbook, and Narrative Illustration, this 120 credit hour program culminates with the BFA Illustration Capstone Project. Graduates go on to secure roles in advertising, publishing, medical and scientific illustration, entertainment, exhibition design, architecture, fashion design, and mural production. Some program alumni have also gone on to launch their own creative studios or freelance businesses. 

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) has an Illustration BFA program that highlights hands-on coursework and the option to focus in any area of Illustration. Examples include children’s book illustration; courtroom illustration; illustration for entertainment (animation and games); comic book illustration; surface design; product illustration; advertising illustration; and editorial illustration. Students may also select a minor such as Graphic Design. The program culminates with a senior project and presentation. Graduates enjoy a 93% employment rate, with nearly 60% of all MCAD alumni landing positions in their chosen field. 

The Department of Design at San Jose State University’s (SJSU) houses a Design Studies BA program with a concentration in Animation/Illustration, and an Animation and Illustration BFA program. Across programs students benefit from partnerships with studios such as Sony Pictures Animation, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and DreamWorks; access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs; immersive workshops; guest lecturers and speakers from major studios; and professional internships. Graduates have been hired at more than 135 animation, film, and game design studios. Examples include Pixar, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony Pictures, Blizzard Entertainment, NBCUniversal Studios, Disney Animation, Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm Animation, Nickelodeon, Zynga, and 20th Century Studios. 

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) at Syracuse University (SU) houses the School of Art. Within the school are BFA and MFA degrees in illustration with opportunities to attend MoCCAFest in New York, study abroad in Florence, Italy, or spend a semester in Los Angeles through the VPA LA Semester program. BFA students may focus in areas such as Editorial or Visual Development. In addition to exhibition opportunities on campus and in New York, MFA students have opportunities to interact with professionals within the arts and publishing industries. SU VPA graduates have been hired at places such as Apple, CBS, Netflix, Louis Vuitton, ESPN, Macy’s, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Haddad Brands.

The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is home to the College of Art, which houses BA and BFA degrees in Studio Art and Design with a major in Communication Design, and the Illustration + Visual Culture MFA (MFA-IVC). Communication Design students can craft an unofficial concentration in illustration through electives. Minors allow students to enhance the degree further by selecting courses in areas such as the illustrated book studio, drawing, and painting. Undergraduate programs culminate with a capstone displayed in a public exhibition and reviewed by art and design professionals. All MFA-IVC students will complete an internship and two final thesis courses to graduate. Program alumni go on to establish careers in all areas of art and design, publishing, advertising, and entertainment, among others. 

The Department of Illustration at Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) is one of the school’s largest and fastest growing departments. Within the department is a BFA program that provides the opportunity to work in the on-campus agency, MICRO. Clients have included the Kansas City Royals and Children’s Mercy Hospital. All Illustration BFA students will also complete a mandatory internship with places such as The Kansas City Star, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Boulevard Brewing Company, and The American Jazz Museum. The program culminates with an exhibition. Graduates have been hired at major companies and studios such as Nickelodeon, Hallmark, Nike, American Greetings, and MTV.

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB or Cal State Long Beach) is home the College of the Arts (COTA). One of CSLUB’s largest and most popular colleges, COTA houses the School of Art (SoA), which has Art BFA and MFA programs with an Illustration option. Students in both programs have the unique opportunity to collaborate with students in the Animation program. In partnership with the Department of Biological Sciences, the SoA also houses an interdisciplinary Biomedical Illustration certificate that can be completed in just one year. CSULB Illustration graduates are prepared to pursue roles in areas such as animation, comic books, toy design, game art, graphic novels, advertising, and medical illustration.

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF or Cal State Fullerton) is home to the College of the Arts. Within the college is the Department of Visual Arts, which houses the Art BFA, MA, and MFA programs with an Illustration concentration. All options provide unlimited access to state-of-the-art production studios, labs, and equipment. Students also benefit from intensive workshops and seminars; internship opportunities; visiting artists; and study abroad experiences. Programs culminate with a capstone project (BFA), creative project and presentation (MA), or project exhibition (MFA). Graduates have gone on to land roles with studios such as DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon, and Lucasfilm. 

The School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) at University of Central Florida (UCF) houses an Art BA program with a Studio track, and a Studio Art BFA. Both programs allow students to specialize in Illustration and complete a professional internship. The Studio Art BFA culminates with the BFA Exhibit/Seminar course. BA students will complete a professional portfolio of their best work to graduate. UCF SVAD alumni have landed positions at places such as Pixar, Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Apple, DreamWorks, Amazon, Universal Orlando, Disney, Weta FX, Google, and YouTube. 

The School of the Arts (VCUarts) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) houses the Department of Communication Arts. Within the department is a Communication Arts BFA program that explores drawing, mixed-media illustration, 3D modeling, and more. Course examples include The Figure in Illustration; Imagery for Children; and 3D Modeling for Concept Design. The program culminates with a professional portfolio of the student s best work. Graduates go on to establish careers as editorial illustrators, comic artists, interactive media designers, game artists, and children’s book illustrators,

The College of Arts and Media (CAM) at University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) houses an Illustration BFA program and a minor for students in other majors such as 3D Graphics and Animation or Digital Design. The BFA provides opportunities to work on projects for clients such as Pixar and the Denver Art Museum. BFA students also have access to state-of-the art digital labs, industrial equipment, and sculpture studios, as well as the CU Denver internship and study abroad programs. The BFA program culminates with the Illustration BFA Thesis course and exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue creative roles in areas such as children’s book publishing, animation, comics, advertising, and games. 

The College of Fine Arts at University of Arizona (UArizona) houses the School of Art. Within the school is a Studio Art program with BFA and MFA options. Students in both programs may enroll in the Illustration, Design, and Animation (IDA) emphasis. Other program benefits include team projects with local clients; participation in the Book Art Collective or UA Illustration + Design; internships; field trips; and study abroad experiences. Programs culminate with an exhibition in the School of Art’s Lionel Rombach and Joseph Gross galleries. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as children’s books, animation, graphic design, advertising, editorial, and product design. 

Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) has several paths to study illustration including the Illustration BFA; a Drawing and Painting BFA with an Illustration emphasis; and a Graphic Design and Digital Media (GD+DM) BFA with an Illustration emphasis. An Illustration minor is also available. Students benefit from courses taught by industry professionals; hands-on design projects with LCAD partners such as Sony and Nike; guest speakers; and internship opportunities. Across programs, graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Marvel, Riot Games, Disney, Saatchi & Saatchi, Google, Blizzard Entertainment, Amazon, MGM, Sony, Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, and Cartoon Network. 

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) has an Illustration BFA program that allows students to select a concentration (Contemporary or Classical); a minor such as Animation and Game Art or Graphic Design; and/or a certificate such as Packaging Design, Filmmaking, Live Experience Design and Production, or UX/UI Design. Other Illustration BFA features include participation in the PCA&D mentorship program; the annual Design in a Day event; and a required internship off-campus or through  PCA&D’s in-house internship program—The Agency. Graduates have worked for clients such as Hasbro, Disney, The Wall Street Journal, A&E Network, PBS Kids, Adidas, HBO, and ESPN. 

The College of Arts and Sciences (C&S) at University of Miami (UofM) houses the Department of Art and Art History, home to the Studio Art MFA with a focus in Digital Imaging/Illustration + Multimedia. Students in this program will work and learn in state-of-the-art computer labs and studio spaces; attend seminars and participate in critiques; interact with visiting lecturers; and take field trips to businesses and museums. The Studio Art MFA culminates with the Thesis and Exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in areas such as publishing, game design, animation, advertising, fine art, graphic design, consulting, and art education. 

Moore College of Art and Design (Moore) houses an Illustration BFA program and an Illustration minor that can be added to any major. All students benefit from mentoring by industry professionals; access to state-of-the-art computer labs, illustration studios, and production facilities; intensive workshops and critiques; studio tours; and field trips to comic cons. BFA students also have the unique opportunity to complete a $1,000 paid internship. In the final year of the program, students will complete the Senior Studio and the Senior Thesis courses. Moore graduates have been hired at places such as Nickelodeon, Mattel, Apple, the Smithsonian Institution, Vanity Fair, Penguin Publishing Group, and NBCUniversal. 

Hartford Art School (HAS) at University of Hartford (UHart) provides BFA and MFA degrees in Illustration. An 18 credit hour Illustration minor is also available. All HAS students have opportunities to complete an internship with partners such as ESPN and Art Basil/Bass Museum. Other program benefits include visiting artists; study abroad experiences at institutions such as Glasgow School of Art (Scotland), and Slade School of Fine Art (London); and studio tours at places such as Nickelodeon, Electronic Arts (EA), and DreamWorks. BFA graduates go on to establish careers in areas such as publishing, animation, comics, editorial, advertising, game art, and exhibit design. Illustration MFA alumni are prepared for leadership roles across industries, teaching positions, or to launch their own studios. 

Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication at California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) houses the Department of Art. Within the department is an Art BA, and the Visual Arts MA or MFA. All students may add the Illustration concentration. Across programs, students benefit from club events and guest speakers; internships at major studios and galleries; portfolio reviews; opportunities to study abroad in places such as Italy and Japan; and student organizations such as the CSUN Illustration Society and IntersectLA (IXLA). CSUN alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, Microsoft, Amazon, NBC, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Netflix, Google, Paramount, MGM, Apple, and Fox Sports. 

The College of Fine Arts and Communication (CFAC) at East Carolina University (ECU) is home to the School of Art and Design (SoAD). Within the school is an Art BFA program with an Illustration concentration, and interdisciplinary studios and coursework in book arts, letterpress, and community arts. Program features include access to state-of-the art computer labs; internships; the Art and Design in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) study abroad program; and participation in the BFA Exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Children’s Book Illustrator, Comic Book Artist, Storyboard Artist, Game Artist, Advertising Illustrator, Printmaker, and Freelance Illustrator.

The School of Art and Design (SOAAD) at Kennesaw State University (KSU) houses an Art BFA with two concentrations including Illustration, and Comics and Sequential Art. Students may also add a second concentration such as Painting and Drawing or Graphic Communications. Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art computer studios; visiting artists; summer art intensives; internships; and the opportunity to study abroad and enroll in the Comics curriculum at ESA Saint-Luc in Bruxells, Belgium. Program alumni have gone on to become illustrators for animation studios, publishing companies, advertising agencies, film studios, packaging companies, major brands, and game studios. 

College of Design at Iowa State University (Iowa State) has customizable BA, BFA, and MFA programs and an Illustration minor that can be added to any major. In partnership with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), the College of Design also provides a Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration BA (BPMI BA), and a 17 credit hour BPMI minor. All options explore both traditional and scientific illustration. All College of Design students may participate in the Rome Program. Housed in Iowa State’s studio facilities at the historic Palazzo Cenci Bolognetti, this program provides the opportunity to collaborate with local design professionals in a fully licensed facility. Graduates go on to establish careers in areas such as children’s book publishing, animation, scientific and medical illustration, game design, and advertising.